Insects Found On A Playground

By Derick Hancock

The great outdoors is the perfect playground for different species of two-legged, six-legged, and eight-legged creatures. There are millions of different types of scary and social insects in play areas. After all, nature is their home, too. Common playground insects generally have three main body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. They also feature two antennae and three pairs of legs, totaling six. However, when children spotted bugs with eight legs like spiders, ticks, and scorpions, they were looking at arachnids, not insects. However, they are still included in the general playground bug identification. Let's look at some of the bugs you might find on a typical playground.

Playground's Tiny Terror Trio: Ants, Flies, and Mosquitoes

These common playground insects are found everywhere; you won't even need magnifying glasses to see them. They may be tiny but still capable of being a nuisance to playground users. The least harmful title is awarded to the ants when it comes to playground bug identification. Known for their hardworking and organized nature, they can be seen marching in lines while carrying crumbs from fallen and forgotten snacks. The black ones are harmless but still quite annoying in large numbers, while the red ants are more aggressive and can deliver painful bites or stings. Flies and mosquitoes can pose double trouble for being transmitters of dangerous diseases despite having a short life cycle. Flies have a knack for finding food and buzzing around the play areas, while mosquitoes are the tiny vampires that cause itchy bites, especially during warm summer days. Sometimes, these tiny nuisances are best dealt with by a good swat or bug spray if they continue to be a problem.

Armored Bark Explorers: Beetles

Children may find that there are more beetles than any other type during their playground bug identification activities. Beetles can be both beneficial and harmful, depending on the situation. They tend to burrow in damp, dark places and generally avoid humans. Common beetle types include stag and pincher beetles. They can be big, slow, and harmless, despite their intimidating appearance. However, they might give you a little pinch with those jaws meant for catching prey and finding a mate. 

Spotted Lucky Charms: Ladybugs

Ladybugs are beetle types of insects in play areas that everyone loves. They are great to have around, as they like feeding on garden pests. A real ladybug has bright colors of red and spots on her back. Do not mistake them with the Asian ladybugs that are typically orange or tan and can be a pest. You might find these imposters nibbling at your skin or finding their way into your house, especially during the fall. 

Nature's Nighttime Twinklers: Fireflies

Another common playground insect that nearly everyone loves are fireflies or lightning bugs. These soft-shelled beetles can turn your backyard or woods into a beautiful light show at night. They feed on garden pests like aphids and slugs, so they are always welcomed to any playground. When engaging in playground bug identification, it is important to remember that when you catch fireflies at night, let them free in the morning to not interfere with their survival and mating process.

Playground's Floating Beauties: Butterflies

Butterflies would be the most popular and admired type of insects in play areas. These graceful flying beauties serve as pollinators, plant pruners, and indicators of healthy ecosystems. At the beginning of their life, they start off as caterpillars. While beneficial in their adult butterfly stage, caterpillars can be harmful pests to some plants during the larval stage. However, they serve a great meal for birds and other predators. 

Buzzing Pollinator Pals: Bees

Bees are another flying insect that children can find on their playground bug identification activities. When spotting a honeybee, let it be. They are nonaggressive and are often just looking for flowers and pollen to take back to the hive and make sweet honey. Honeybees rarely sting. Their relatives, such as wasps and hornets, should be avoided since they can be more aggressive and capable of stinging multiple times. It's good to know the differences between these flying stingers for safety. 

Jumping Jesters of the Playground: Orthoptera Insect Family

You may also spot members of jumping types of insects in play areas called the Orthoptera family. These include crickets, grasshoppers, katydids, and praying mantises. They have straight wings and often rub their legs or wings together. Crickets, in particular, are famous for their distinct evening chirps, while katydids are masters of camouflage and fellow nocturnal singers with raspy calls sounding similar to their name. Grasshoppers have powerful hind legs that allow them to leap in impressive distances, though they are often considered as pests due to their diet. Praying mantises, on the other hand, are really gentle and people welcome them in the garden and the fields. They're also efficient hunters and predators. 

Playground's Eight-Legged Wonders: Arachnids

Lastly, we have arachnids, the eight-legged creatures such as spiders, that are often included in playground bug identification despite not being insects. These common playground insects can be scary to some, but they could just be looking to hunt for pests. Tarantulas and scorpions, members of the same group, can only be found in warmer climates. However, ticks, another existing and famous arachnid, are found just about anywhere and unwelcome. They are often found in bushes and trees close to playgrounds. They need to be avoided and removed if one attaches itself to you. 

We love bugs, whether they are the beloved or feared types of insects in play areas or anywhere else. At PlaygroundEquipment.com, you can find design elements of playground structures and equipment featuring the classic favorites of ladybugs, caterpillars, and butterflies, as well as the cool choices of fireflies, grasshoppers, and bees. Until your next playground bug identification adventure, stay curious and observant of all insects that share these play spaces!

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